Garment spotting apparatus



Sept. 24,. 195 7 A. M. BUTERBAUGH- 2,807,503

GARMENT SPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Zhwentor.

Alba/"f M. Buferbauy/z Gtfornegs.

2,807,503 GARMENT SPOTTIN G APPARATUS Albert M. Buterbaugh, Kansas City,Mo. Application February 13, 1953, Serial No. 336,860

I 2 Claims. (Cl. 299-87) 1 This invention relates to garment spottingapparatus and more particularly to apparatus that combines a liquidreceptacle and air connections for supplying air and/or air and liquidto the nozzle or brush of a spotting tool separately or together withwet or dry steam.

' It is common dry cleaning practice to first dry clean a'garment andthen, if spots are found thereon, pass the garment to a spotter whotreats the spots which are not removed by the dry cleaning process withvarious chemicals in an attempt to remove them. In the dry cleaningprocess the garment is subjected to a dry cleaning solvent such ascarbon tetrachlorideand the like, which will dissolve most oily orgreasy stains, however, such organic solvents do not removewater-soluble stains and certain spots which are neither oil-soluble orwatersoluble, such as iodine stains, rust spots, ink spots, et cetera.The spotter usually steams the garment over a steaming board beforespotting and then attempts to remove water-soluble spots with wet steamapplied with a steam gun or nozzle. For the removal of spots or'stainsthat are not soluble in Water or wet steam, chemicals are appliedand'the spots brushed or otherwise worked to soften and dissolve thespotting matter. Then the chemical and dissolved matter are flushed outwith wet steam from the steam gun or nozzle. The spotter usually hasavailable dry steam with provisions of providing moisture in varyingquantities thereto according to the particular spotting operation to beperformed. Frequently the spotting matter in a garment is hardened orset by the dry cleaning solvent or heat and then is very diflicult andsometimesimpossible of removal.

It is desirable to remove the spotting matter from the garment prior tosubjecting same to dry cleaning solvents. However, I have found thateither before or after the garment is subjected to dry cleaning solventsmany of the spots can be removed by working and softening the spottingmatter while applying relatively cold water and/or water and airtheretowhile brushing or otherwise working-the sptted'areas,- and the spottingmatter that is not dissolved by water'is not further hardened or set bysuch treatment. Therefore, it is preferable when attempting to removeany spots, the cause of which is not known, to first use water and/ orwater and air for the attempted removal. If the spot does not respond'to the Water treatment, air and wet steam are applied. Dry steam and wetsteam may also be used to 'providea desiredmoisture content of the mediaapplied to the garment and if the spot is still not removed 7 it may betreated with suitable chemicals commonly used in the industry for spotremoval and the chemicals then flushed from the garment with water orwater and air or steam of desired moisture content.

The objects of thepresent invention are to provide a garment spottingapparatus wherein all the spotting operations may be carried out with asingle piece of equipment having controls for varying the spotremovingmedia applied to the stained or spotted area; to

provide a liquid container with air connections whereby water or waterand air or air alone may be selectively applied to the garmentseparately or together with wet or dry steam whereby the moisturecontent of the media applied to the garment is best suited to the workat hand; and to provide a garment spotting apparatus that is easilycontrolled and eflicient in operation for rapidly spotting garments withreduced danger of injury to the fabrics of the garments.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in they accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a garment spotting apparatus constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the liquid and air system of thespotting apparatus.

Fig.3 is a side elevation of the liquid and air system 'as viewed fromthe left of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the liquid and air system.

- Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the liquid and air systemillustrating the arrangement of the controls therefor.

. Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a garment spotting apparatus generally consisting of aspotting table 2 and a liquid and air supply system 3. The spottingtable has a base 4 provided with an upright support 5, which carries acombination spotting and steaming board 6 having one portion 7 with aslab-like top and another portion 8 having a woven wire or perforatedmetal top 9. The board 6 is supported on a hollow arm 10, the interiorof which communicates with a hollow interior of the board portion 8, andalso through a hollow portion of the support 5 to a valvell adapted tobe connected to a source of suction whereby when the valve 11 is openedair will be drawn through the woven wire top 9. A basket 12 is carriedon the support 5 below the board 6 to aid in supporting garments whilebeingprocessed on the board.

The spotting table has a steam inlet 13 adapted to be connected to asuitable source of steam for supplying steam to a tubular separator 14.Arranged in the steam system are valves 15 and 16 operated by footpedals 17 and 18 respectively. The foot pedals 17 and 18 have links '17and 18 respectively connected with the valve 11 whereby when either footpedal is depressedthe valve 11-is opened toapply a suction to thespotting table. The'discharge of each of the valves 15 and 16 isconnected to a pipe 19 which has a valve 20 controlling flowtherethrough and to a flexible hose-like conduit 21. The spotting tableand steam system therefor, as above described, are exemplary of spottingtables that have heretofore been used. The'valve 20 is an auxiliaryvalve to positively shut off flow of wet or dry steam to the conduit 21when neither is desired for use in the spotting op- 5 erations. Wheneither wet or dry steam is desired valve 20 is opened and the supply ofwet steam controlled by valve 15 and the-supply of dry steam controlledby valve 16. The conduit 21 is connected to a steam discharge nozzle orspotting tool for discharge of steam onto the spotted area of a garmentand a particular structure of the stance, the tank is mounted on asupport 23 and said tank has a vertical, cylindrical wall 24 and upperand lower outwardly dished heads 25 and 26 respectively to form apressure-tight chamber 27. The lower head 26 is preferably spaced abovethe bottom edge 28 of the cylindrical, wall and has an ,0utlet29connected to a drain pipe.

having ;a valve 31 whereby on opening of the valve 31 sediment andliquid may be withdrawn from the bottom of the chamber 27. Air underpressure is supplied to the chamber 27 nearthe upper portion thereofthrough a port 32 in a boss 33, saidboss being internally'threaded toconnect a compressed air supply pipe 34 which is connected to a sourceof compressed air. (not shown). Water or other suitable liquid isintroduced into the tank chamber 27 to a predetermined level provided bya valved controlled overflow port 35 in the side wall of the tank and ata lower level than the port 32, whereby the compressed air enters thechamber 27 above the liquid level.

While the liquid may be introduced from a suitable source through avalved connection with the tank, in the illustrated structure an opentop vessel 36. is adapted to have liquid poured therein and the bottomof'rthe vessel is connected by a duct 37 to the pipe 34, wherebytheliquid from the vessel 36 fiowsthrouglr the duct 37, pipe 34 and port 32into thechamber 27. A valve 38 is arranged in the duct 37 forclosingsame during use of the apparatus, the valve 38 being open only whenadditional liquid is to be supplied to the chamber 27. When liquid isintroduced to the chamber 27 the air supply is cut off and the overflowport 35 opened. While the duct 37 is connected to the pipe 34, separateconnection with the chamber 27 may be utilized for the compressed airand liquid supply.

The tank 22 is provided with valve controlled connections communicatingwith a pipe 39 for selective flow therethrough of air or liquid alone,or both air and liquid, The pipe 39 is connected through a solenoidoperated valve 40 to a pipe 41 to which is also connected a dischargeend of the flexible conduit 21. In the structure illustrated the pipe 41and conduit 21 are connected to branches of a T fitting 42, the otherbranch of which is connected to a spotting tool 43 by a flexiblehose-like conduit 44. The spotting tool has a handle 45 through whichextends a tube 46, one end of which is connected as at 47 to the conduit44 and the other end of which has a brush 48 mounted thereon, wherebythe tube discharges adjacent the center of the brush. An electrical plugconnector 49 adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electriccurrent is connected to the solenoid to supply current thereto. A switch50 arranged in the handle 45 of the spotting tool is electricallyconnected in the circuit for controlling the current to the solenoid,pressing of the switch 50 to close same energizing the solenoid to openthe valve ,40 for flow of media therethrough and releasing of the switch50, breaking the circuit to the solenoid whereby the valve 40 is thenclosed and remains closed until the solenoid is again energized.

In the valve connections from the tank 22 to the pipe 39 for flow of airor water or both to said pipe, separate connections with the tank may bearranged. In the illustrated instance, and for convenience of assembly,the upper head 25 has a boss 51 provided with an internally threadedbcre52 into which is threaded the lower end of a nipple 53. The upper end ofthe nipple 53 is threaded into one of the aligned branches of a Tfitting 54. A reducer bushing 55 is threaded into the upper in linebranch of the T fitting 54. A tube 56, smaller in diameter thanthe borein the nipple 53, has its upper end threaded or otherwise secured in thereducer bushing 55, said tube extending downwardly from the reducerthrough the bore of the nipple 53 and into the chamber 27 and terminatesas at 57 adjacent the bottom of the chamber 27 The upper end of the tube56 projects from the reducer bushing 55 and is connected to a needlevalve assembly 58, the discharge of the needle valve assembly beingconnected by a tube 59 to a nozzle member 60, which preferably extendsthrough a T fitting 61 and terminates in the pipe 39, whereby when airpressure is applied on the upper surface of the liquid in the chamber27. and the valve 58 is opened, liquid is forced through the tube 56,.valve 58, tube 59 and nozzle 60 and discharged in a jet intothe pipe 39,adjustment of the needle valve 58 varying the flow of liquid andquantity discharged from the nozzle. The other branch of the T fitting54 has a reducer bushing 62 therein to which is connected a needle valveassembly 63, the discharge of said needle valve assembly being connectedby a pipe 64 to a branch of the T fitting 61, whereby when the needlevalve 63 is opened air in the chamber 27 above the liquid therein willflow through the bore of the nipple 53 around the tube 56, through the Tfitting 54, reducer bushing 62, valve assembly 63, pipe 64, and into theT fitting 61 for flow around the nozzle 60 and into the pipe 39.

In operating a garment spotting apparatus constructed and assembled asdescribed and with a steam supply con nected to the connection 13, thevalve 38 is opened and a suitable liquid, such as water, poured in thevessel 36 for flow into the chamber 27 until the level of the liquid insaid chamber is even with the valve controlled overflow port 35. Thevalve controlled overflow port is then closed and the val e 38 closed.The pipe 34 is then connected to a compressed air supply to deliver airunder pressure into the space in the chamber 27 above the liquid level.A garment to be spotted is placed on the portion 8 of the spotting board6 and then with the valve assembly 63 in closed condition, the valve 58is opened and the valve 20 closed. The plug 49 is connected with asuitable source of electric current for energizing the solenoid valve40. Then the operator steps on one of the foot pedals 1'7 or 18 to openthe. valve 11 whereby suction is applied to the spotting board portion 8and the switch 50 is depressed to energize the solenoid valve 40 to opensame, whereby the air pressure on the liquid in the chamber 27 causessame to flow through the tube 56, valve 58, tube 59, nozzle 60, pipe 39,valve 40, pipe 41 and conduit 44 and tube 46 to discharge the liquidinto the spotted area of the garment, the operator also working thebrush 48 on the. garment to soften the spotting material and facilitateits being dissolved and washed from the garment by the water. Then thevalve assembly 63 may be opened whereby air. from the chamber 27 willllow through the nipple 53, the fitting 54, reducer bushing 62, valve63, pipe 64, T fitting 61 and around the nozzle 60 into the pipe 39,whereby the. air flow serves as an aspirator drawing liquid from thenozzle 60 and breaking same into a fine mist which is discharged throughthe spotting tool onto the garment. If desired the valve assembly 58 maybe closed whereby only air is discharged from the spotting tool. Thenthe switch 50 is depressed to energize and open the solenoid valve 40. 1If the spotting matter does not respond to such treatment, the valve 20is opened and the operator, by depressing pedal 17 or 18, will cause wetor dry steam respectively to flow through the-conduit21, conduit 44and'spotting tool to the garment. By opening the valve 58 and valve 20and pressing the switch 50 simultaneously with depressing of thefootpedal 18, both water and steam will be discharged from the spotting toolonto the garment. Also by opening the valve 63, together with valve 58and valve 20, a

mixture of air, water and steam will be discharged onto.

the garment. Closing of the valve 58 and opening the valve 63 and valve20 and depressing of the pedal 18 and switch 50 will cause air and steamto be discharged onto the garment.

Therefore, by manipulation of the valves, air or water alone may bedischarged onto the garment, air and water together, air and dry steam,air and wet steam, dry steam alone, or wet steam alone maybe dischargedonto the garment, and with this arrangement the operator may selectivelyflow water onto the garment at desired tem peratures from cold water towater substantially at the boiling point and also may flow steam withvarious degrees of moisture therein, the character of the spots to beremoved determining the media to be used thereon. After treatment withliquid or steam, air alone may be discharged on the garment tofacilitate drying of same.

It is believed obvious I have provided a garment spotting apparatuswhich provides a wide range of spotting media for use in removing spotsand also provides for the use of liquid such as water for use in thefirst endeavor to remove spots the character of which is unknown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a garment spotting apparatus, a steam separator having a steaminlet and a dry steam outlet and a wet steam outlet, valved meansregulating flow through the respective steam outlets, a spotting toolhaving a passage therethrough, a closed tank adapted to contain a liquidand air under pressure above the liquid level, means connected to thetank for supplying liquid thereto, means connected with the tank forsupplying air under pressure to said tank above the liquid level, atubular member extending downwardly of the tank and having an inletbelow the surface of the liquid and an outlet exteriorly of the tankabove the surface of the liquid, a discharge line, a flexible conduitconnecting one end of the discharge line with the passage in thespotting tool, means in the discharge line for controlling flowtherethrough to the spotting tool, flow means connecting the tubularmember outlet with the discharge line, means in said flow means forcontrolling flow therethrough, a second flow means having one endcommunicating with the tank above the surface of the liquid therein andthe other end communicating with the discharge line, means controllingair flow through the second flow means, means for operating the flowcontrol means in the discharge line for discharge of air and liquid fromthe spotting tool, duct means connecting the wet and dry steam outletsto the discharge line, and a valve means controlling steam flow to thedischarge line.

2. In a garment spotting apparatus, a steam separator having a steaminlet and a dry steam outlet and a Wet steam outlet, valved meansregulating flow through the respective steam outlets, a spotting toolhaving 'a passage therethrough, a closed tank adapted to contain aliquid and air under pressure above the liquid level, means connected tothe tank for supplying liquid thereto, a valved overflow connectionlimiting the maximum level of the liquid in the tank, means connectedwith the tank above the overflow connection for supplying air underpressure to said tank above the liquid level, a tubular member extendingdownwardly of the tank and having an inlet below the surface of theliquid and an outlet exteriorly of the tank above the surface of theliquid, a discharge line, a flexible conduit connecting one end of thedischarge line with the spotting tool, a valve in the discharge line forcontrolling flow therethrough to the spotting tool, a nozzle dischargingin the discharge line adjacent the other end thereof, flow meansconnecting the tubular member outlet with the nozzle, valve means in theflow means for regulating liquid flow therethrough, a second flow meanshaving one end communicating with the tank above the surface of theliquid therein and the other end communicating with the discharge lineadjacent the nozzle and upstream therefrom, valve means in the secondflow means for regulating air flow therethrough, means for operating thevalve in the discharge line for discharge of air and liquid from thespotting tool in accordance with the relative regulatory adjustment ofthe valve means in the respective flow means, duct means connecting thedry and wet steam outlets to the discharge line, and valve means in theduct means for regulating steam flow therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,114,592 De Witt Oct. 20, 1914 1,437,331 Alexander Nov. 28, 19221,608,635 Theriot Nov. 30, 1926 1,667,683 Thompson Apr. 24, 19282,340,832 Darnrne Feb. 1, 1944 2,346,821 Cissell Apr. 18, 1944 2,350,876Clarkson June 6, 1944 2,363,956 Glover Nov. 28, 1944 2,392,645 ClobridgeJan. 8, 1946 2,571,575 Holmes Oct. 16, 1951. 2,598,447 Schultz May 27,1952 2,598,571 Longmuir May 27, 1952 2,670,621 Glover Mar. 2, 19542,707,874 Glover May 10, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 672,442 Great Britain May21, 1951

